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Inspired by the works of Arthur C. Clarke, J.G. Ballard and Philip K. Dick, Infinite Summer sees Michael Lovett’s NZCA Lines “marry sci-fi futurism to personal intimacies” to produce what must surely be one of the funkiest apocalyptic concept albums of all time. Indeed, also featuring former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley and drummer Sarah Jones (Hot Chip, New Young Pony Club), the follow-up to 2012’s self-titled debut may center on […]

Named after a term used for trained assassins he heard in a documentary on espionage, Skilled Mechanics sees trip-hop trailblazer Tricky assemble his own killer team for the most collaborative studio effort of his lengthy career. Some of those on board are no stranger to the world of Adrian Thaws, including regular vocalist Francesca Belmonte who lends her sultry tones to the eerie synth-balladry of “We Begin,” drummer Luke Harris […]

As you’d expect from a founding member of studious classical-electro outfit Clean Bandit, British-Ugandan vocalist/rapper Love Ssega certainly isn’t short on brainpower. Born and raised in South London, the 24-year-old graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, then made the brave decision to quit the aforementioned Grammy winners to finish his Ph.D. in laser sensing. Love Ssega (real name Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka) is just as cultured as he […]

Judging by all the pre-release talk of shunning EDM, steering dance music back into a proper direction and making a piece of art, you’d expect Steve Angello’s second solo LP, Wild Youth, to be something of a game-changer. So it’s slightly baffling to hear that the Stockholm DJ has delivered the kind of unadventurous, generic and largely forgettable record he appears to be rallying against. Indeed, featuring guest appearances from […]

David Bowie, arguably one of the most influential figures in modern music for the past 40-plus years, died on Sunday, Jan. 10 after a battle with cancer. He was 69. While previous rumors of his death in years past were greatly exaggerated, the news has been confirmed by Bowie’s representatives and his son Duncan Jones (via Twitter). The following statement appears on Bowie’s official Facebook page: “David Bowie died peacefully […]

So after crowning Jamie xx’s “Loud Places” and Bob Moses’ Days Gone By as the greatest single and album of 2015 respectively, we now switch our attention to what we can expect to hear over the next twelve months in the world of dance/electronica. The first big album out of the blocks this year is Moth (Jan 22), the third album from alt-pop duo Chairlift, which judging by its first […]

Bieber Fever Takes Over 2012 American Music Awards

The fans have spoken, and apparently America has not had enough of Justin Bieber. Or at least the Internet-savvy, Bieber-Fever sufferers who voted online.

While Nicki Minaj and Rihanna were favored to dominate the 40th Annual AMA’s, having received four nominations each, the Biebster swept the awards in each of the three categories in which he was nominated: Favorite Pop/Rock Album, Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist, and the night’s crowing award, Artist of the Year. Perhaps appropriately, many of the evening’s more memorable moments happened with Bieber on the stage—from calling out the haters “who thought that maybe I was just here for one or two years” during his first acceptance speech, to Jenny McCarthy sneak-attacking him from behind with a flurry of kisses during his second acceptance, to bringing his mother onstage for the Artist of the Year award. Even his live performance was memorable, if momentarily awkward; with Bieber fresh on the heels of a breakup with Selena Gomez, it seemed a little surreal to hear Nicki Minaj mention his ex in her guest rap on “Beauty and a Beat”, even if she was remaining true to the original recording.

In other moments of note during the AMA’s, Rihanna and Minaj did not go home empty-handed, grabbing one and two awards, respectively; boy band sensations The Wanted and One Direction, however, did. (Go home empty-handed, that is.) Carly Rae Jepsen predictably snagged New Artist of the Year, while the AMA’s first award in the Electronic Dance Music Category fell to David Guetta, beating out Calvin Harris and Skrillex. (Guetta accepted the award via pre-taped speech). The late Dick Clark, creator of the AMA’s, was honored with a special tribute featuring a medley by Stevie Wonder, and K-Pop star Psy closed the show with a live performance of his viral dance sensation “Gangnam Style.” The number featured a surprise appearance by MC Hammer, who had spawned a dance craze of his own in the late 1980’s.

Unlike the Grammy Awards, where winners are voted on by industry insiders, the AMA’s essentially represent the popular vote by music consumers. For the past several years, voting for the nominees has occurred online. Justin Bieber’s big win came as a direct result of an active fan base going online to vote.

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About the Author

David Tillman is an independent composer/arranger whose primary work involves writing jingles for commercials for radio and television, with several film and television placements to his credit as well. David has a fascination for all things related to the music business and the music industry in general, an obsession which his wife finds to be mildly unhealthy at times. His personal tastes in music are in electronica and industrial rock, and include The Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk and Nine Inch Nails (he loves that Trent Reznor is writing soundtracks!).
When not in his office or in his man-cave, David enjoys skiing, hiking, the occasional game of golf, and sometimes just lounging by the pool. David lives with his wife and three children in Los Angeles, CA.